So my bike was stolen today while I was at work. I immediately filed a police report, posted on craigslist (Bike/Transportation Stolen!!!) and basically told every one I know to keep an eye out. I will be posting up signs around town tomorrow. So my question is what else could I do to increase my odds of getting my bike back?

prathmann

06-05-14 01:25 AM

Sorry to hear about your stolen bike. But it does seem ironic that your first post here was to poke fun at someone's bike with duct tape holding the saddle together and then a week later your much more aesthetic bike is stolen - bet the guy with the duct-taped saddle still has his bike.

Keep checking Craigslist and any flea markets or swap meets in your area that frequently have bikes for sale. Also check with the police periodically - I've heard quite a few cases where bikes were recovered but the police never checked the serial numbers or descriptions against stolen bike reports so they just stayed in the property room until auctioned off.

NorCalCommuter

06-05-14 01:43 AM

I get the irony, the lessons just not too fun. Guess my next commuter/build should be a bit more low key. I'm on Craigslist all the time as my pos commuter was stolen a couple months ago and I still stupidly hope to get it back. Thank you very much for your suggestions any help is appreciated.

Oh and to clarify, I was commuting on my beater, then it got stolen. So I decided to commuted on my fixed, now its stolen.

seau grateau

06-05-14 04:26 AM

Might help to spread the word to local shops as well. I knew a mechanic back in Philly who recovered a stolen wheelset because he recognized them as wheels he had built himself when a stranger brought them in on his bike to put air in the tires.

Cute Boy Horse

06-05-14 04:41 AM

Okay dude as a guy who also rides a bike covered in gold parts:

One don't leave gold lying around. Two learn colour coordination

GhostSS

06-05-14 05:15 AM

You probably won't get your bike back. There are some stories here and there where people have recovered their bikes but they are the exception to the rule. More than likely your bike has already been disassembled and spray painted a different color. There was even a an old guy a while back who amassed a collection of stolen bikes (like, more than a hundred) and just let them rust in a warehouse after a decade of being a compulsive opportunity thief

I don't want to be a negative Ned about it, but plan on buying another bike with a more secure locking system/method.

EDIT: I also had my bike stolen back in October 2013 and checked everywhere, local swap meets, bike shops, pawn shops, craigslist listing everyday, etc and I live on a freakin' island and have not recovered it. Thieves know how to cover their tracks and how to resell parts without getting caught.

WestPablo

06-05-14 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCalCommuter
(Post 16822884)

.... I was commuting on my beater, then it got stolen. So I decided to commuted on my fixed, now its stolen.

Goddamn___man! Where the hell do you live?

DiabloScott

06-05-14 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCalCommuter
(Post 16822860)

So my question is what else could I do to increase my odds of getting my bike back?

Post some Googleable tagged photos of your bike with the serial number and your contact info.

Jared.

06-05-14 08:01 AM

Are you in a city? Post the info on any relative Facebook groups. Some cities have stolen bike, part swap, or just general cycling group pages.

Do you use Instagram? Same deal. Post up info.

Post up info in the regional section on this site.

You may want to look at your lockup job as well. Getting two bikes stolen in short order means you need a better place and better procedures to lock up your bike.

NorCalCommuter

06-05-14 08:27 AM

Thank you all for the replies. I have notified my lbs and posted on Facebook. And to answer westpablo Oroville CA. And I have also spoken with the owner of where I work at and he is installing a bike rack and more cameras.

NorCalCommuter

06-05-14 08:43 AM

And if I have to replace it, I want a kilo TT.

JamesRL

06-05-14 08:44 AM

I've seen posts on Craigslist about a stolen bike. Offer a reward.

Huffandstuff

06-05-14 09:11 AM

I've found a buddies stolen bike on craigslist before, the thief waited a month to post it though so you might be out for a while.

I'd also think about investing in two 9 inch ulocks so you can get both wheels + frame if thievery is that bad.

rms13

06-05-14 09:45 AM

How and where were you looking up? Look into parking inside your work if you can

MaggieJayne

06-05-14 09:45 AM

Sounds like you need to reevaluate your locking skills.

NorCalCommuter

06-05-14 10:00 AM

Guy just cut thru the lock. And the beater had a kryptonite ulock on it.

rms13

06-05-14 10:22 AM

Like others said re-evaluate locking. You probably should use a u lock and a cable lock and research the best way to use them